Device for protecting the human ears



DEVICE FOR PROTECTING THE HUMAN EARS Filed Sept. 27. 1924 Patented Sept. 6, 192

UNITED s ares JAMES PERCY \VINN OF SUTTON COLDFIELD, ENGLAND.

' .nn'vron non PROTECTING THE riot-ran nAas.

Application filed September 27, 1924-, Serial No. 740,373, and inGreat Britain December 15, 1923 This invention comprises a device or appliance for protecting the human ears, and it has for its purpose to relieve the cars from noise occasioned for instance by one suflering with irregular or defectiveheart action. In such circumstances when the ear is rested upon a. pillow or other supporting device, noise, vibration or beatingis set up in the head, and it is the object of the present invention to avoid or reduce this, the in vention having the. advantage that'it conduces to sleep or rest or to increased comfort in sleep or rest. I

Accordingly the .present invention comprehends a device or appliance in the form of a pad or pads adapted to be placed over the ear or ears. and which pad or pads is or are adapted to be secured to the head by fastening devices which preferably are adjustable. The pad or each pad has a recess, opening or space adapted to be located in relation to the duct which communicates with the drum of the car. This recess or space may be located transversely of the pad as for in stance in a vertical position so that ventilation is permitted, but alternatively the opening may be a circular one'in a pad which maybe of annular form. The pad is thus adapted to form a cushion between the ear and the part upon which the latter rests.

' In order to avoid undue pressure upon the ear I advantageously incorporate a second pad above that which islocated in rela tion to the ear. This second pad serves to distribute tie supporting means for the head when the device is in use. Either or both of'the pads may be of-an appropriate non-metallic material reinforced with metallic or other relatively rigid ma- 40 terial, and in cases in which the air space extends across the ear-pad. in a vtartical'direction' the bearing part of the pad behind the ear may project from the reinforcing plate more prominently than that part of the padwhich bears upon the fore part of the ear. This desideratum may be obtained by suitably bending the reinforcing memher when composed of sheet metal, and the pad-sections atfront and rear may be detachable from the reinforcing member. Al-

ternatively the pad may be composed of moulded rubber with fore and rear bearing portions of a hollow character, the transverse part from which these portions project being stiffened if desired,as for instance by incorporating a metal plate.

The additional pad which is located above that in the re ion of the ear isalso advantageously reinforced with sheet metal.

The pads or the bearing portions thereof maybe of any appropriate material such as fabric filled with any suitable packing or alternatively they are of a character such that they may be. inflated or filled with water or other liquid.

The pads orbearing portions thereof may each be providedwith a silk or other covering which is preferably detachable.

Such a device thus functions to leave the orifice of the ear open to the air while ren (lering it impossible-for any object against which the head or car is placed to close this orifice withoutan airspace or pocket intervening. p 1

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily"carried into practice, reference may be had to theappended sheet of explanatory drawings on which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevationof the em-' bodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of theembodiment' shown in Figures 1 and 2' asviewed in a direction opposite to that obtaining in the case of Figure 1.

Figure t 1s an elevation s milar to Flgure 3 but with that part of the device which occurs on theleft of the head omitted.

.Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the part shown in Figuret. r Figure 6 illustrates separately certain parts of the device'shown in Figures 1 to 4. Figure 7 is a sectional plan of the central element shownfin Figure 6.

FigureB illustrates in sectional plan'cerw tain parts omittedin Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 9 illustrates 1n sectlonal plan a modification of the structure shown 1n Figure 5. o

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention I provide a sheet metal frame (Z -01' reinforcing member, flanged at the rear side as at Z) and provided with V inturned tongues c which are adapted detachably to carrythe front pad section d; This pad section is provided with a strip of elastic -e which embraces the tongues 0, the ends of which are bent at right angles as at f to re.- tain .the pad. At a position between the tongues which occur substantially at top and bottom of the frame or reinforcing member Ril.

an intermediate tongue g occurs which forms a base for the pad spacing: it from the body of the "frame: The extremity of this tongue bent in *ardly as at it to bear upon the inner surface of the main web of said frame and on the other side of the Frame only the tongues ll at top and bottom utilized to carry the pad section are employed. the pad section being adapted to bed directly upon the inner surface of the plate.

Elongated openings j are provided at top and bottom in the mid-portion ot the frame for the connection of attachment devices.

The pad a which is located above that last described may be of similar material reinforced by a plate of metal A which cranked or o'll-set at a mid-position to acco1n modate at the outer side of the pad a ring Z hereinafter to be described. which is associated with the 'lasteninp; devices. The Cltll'llilng' or oil-setting ot the plate 7.: enables the outer face of this ring: to lie tlush with the outer bearing parts ol the pad, while inwardly the paddine is restricted in its thickness at a TEIlllill point so that the head is relieved "from any etl'ects ot the cranlted or off-set part of the plate.

An elastic or other connecting device m extends from the top of the ear pad to the ring I at the back of the head pad n and another similar connecting; device 0 extends from the upper part ot this ring: and is adapted to pass over the head to a similar ring located above the other car. Ti ith this other ring another head pad and ear pad may be associated, but: otherwise or connecting element 7 extends from the bottom of the ring and is adapted to be passed around the chin and to be secured to a connecting element 1 depending hour the bottom of the reinfore1no plate of the ear-pad on the other side of the head.

t Two other SECIU'IDQ devices 1 a are pro; vided passing laterally from the rings and;

connecting: the latter. One of these members may extend around the tore-head and the other around the rear part of the head.

All of the fastening;- members are pretorably of an adjustable character as for in stance by the utilization of suitable buckle devices 25.

The modification shown in Figure 9 illustrates a pad comptrsed of rubber having hollow bearing parts a.

The rings provide tor sel't' alignment and universal movement of the fastening: devices which latter are advantzre'coiu ly throughout of an elastic. cl'laracteu and said fastening: devices are advantageously detachable both from the ear pad and hem the supplementary pad. The latter may at its outer surface be provided with loops through which the laterally extending: members pass in a manner such that the fastening devices are thereby secured detachably to the pad.

ll'hile I have mentioned "fabric tilled with a suitable nit-hing as an appropriate medium For use as the bearing portions of the pads, and have suggested alternatively that the pads may be composed of rubber, in each case with metal or appropriate non-metallic nniterial as a supporting medium the materials with which the pads are composed may be modilicd conaidcralily and chamois or other sott leather. oiled sill; and skins packed with sponge rubber, cotton wool or titling may be mentioned as alternative materials for the pad proper, while the reinforcing; elements may for instance be composed of outtzepcrcha, horn, bone, ivory or appropriate compositions.

Haring described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. .1 device for relieving the human cars of internal noises and beatiiurs and comprising a pad having; a Frame. spaced ear engaging cushions lo ntcd alone the side edges ol the 'l'ranle and having an opening; between such cushions allot-ding open connnunication between the car opening and the atmosphere, a pad enganeable with the head above the ear. means for holdin; the pads in position on the car and head. and including; an adjlltl'tllllt. head micircling element extendible over the top oi the head and under the chin, and an adjustable head encircling element extcndiblc around the forehead and also around the back of the head.

2. A device tor relieving the human ears ot' internal noises and beatings and compris ing a pad having a frame, spaced car ongaging cui--:hion:'-: located alon e the side edges of the frame, and .means on the :trame tor securing the cushions thereto. the space be tween the cushions ati ordingl' an unobstructed opening); atl'ording communication between the ear opening and the atmosphere when the pad is applied to the car.

3. Jr device for relieving the human cars of internal nois s and beatings and comprising) a pad havi a lraiuc. spaced car enearring; cushions located along the side edges oi the "frame and. having an opening between such cushions and atlordiiu open communication between the ear opening and the atmorphere, a pad (Ellgjjtlt lttlltlO with the head above the ear. means tor holding the pads in position on the ear and head, and ineluding! an adjustable head encircling; element extcndibleorer the top ol. the head and under the chin, and an adjustable head encircliiug' element extendible around the forehead and, also around the baclro'l. the head. said head encircling elements havine r npgs incorporated therein to permit of proper alignment of the same In testimony whcreol I hereunto allix my en a ture.

J AlrlfES PERCY lVI NN. 

